In a scary development, a major Obama fundraiser who defended a convicted al Qaeda terrorist will become the third highest ranking official at the Department of Justice (DOJ), which, ironically, is charged with defending the interests of the United States.

Northern California lawyer Tony West has been named Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, making him the No. 3 guy at the agency. In 2009 West, who helped Obama raise tens of millions of dollars as finance co-chairman of his first presidential campaign, was appointed to help run the DOJ’s civil division which represents the government, Congress and presidential cabinet officers and handles cases dealing with significant policy issues.

In a statement announcing the promotion this week, Attorney General Eric Holder says West has served the department with “professionalism, integrity and dedication.” Holder also mentions West’s work before coming to the DOJ a few years ago, including a stint as a Special Assistant Attorney General in California and a lengthier career at a large San Francisco law firm.

Conveniently omitted in the press release is that West represented convicted al Qaeda terrorist John Walker Lindh, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence. Lindh was captured in Afghanistan in 2001 while fighting against the U.S.-backed Northern Alliance as a member of the Taliban army. He actually pleaded guilty to aiding the Taliban and carrying explosives while fighting U.S. troops in the region.

As was previously reported on The Leslie Brodie Report Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) — Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice — is under scrutiny in connection with non-profit entity CaliforniaALL.

Sources with knowledge, speaking on condition of anonymity, maintain a red flag has been raised over West due to the overall circumstances surrounding non-profit entity CaliforniaALL; Voice of OC; Morrison & Foerster (“MoFo”); MoFo’s James Brosnahan of Voice of OC ; California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) ; State Bar of California executive-director Joe Dunn and Martha Escutia of Voice of OC ; CaliforniaALL’s Kamala Harris ; Willie Brown and protégés — State Bar of California Board of Governors member Gwen Moore of Shrimpscam, as well as CPUC Commissioner Timothy Simon also of CaliforniaALL.

Mr. Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice. He joined Morrison & Foerster in 2001. While at MoFo, West represented “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh alongside partners James Brosnahan and Raj Chatterjee. His sister-in-law, Kamala Harris, is the California attorney general who was part of sham non-profit entity CaliforniaALL.

Mr. West shares a laugh with sister-in-law Kamala Harris former paramour who is like an albatross hanging around her neck — Willie Brown ( an otherwise a confederate of CPUC insider and State Bar of California Board of Governor member Gwen Moore.)

From left, Ms. Lateefah Simon (spouse of CPUC Commissioner and Golden Gate University Professor Timothy Alan Simon); Mr Tony West; Mr. John Burris, a well-known and well-respected civil rights attorney whom TLR previously introduce to its readers in connection with former crack-addict Mike Nisperos during a trip to CNMI HERE.

CaliforniaALL

Ms. Ruth Ashley, a former member of the State bar of California Board of Governors, arranged with others the subrosa transfer of $769,247.00 from the State Bar to a chritable entity — CaliforniaALL — which was under her control. (Photo: courtesy)

In approximately 2007, Ruthe Catolico Ashley — an attorney from Sacramento and a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors — was employed by CalPERS as a “Diversity Officer.” Prior to her employment with CalPERS, Ms. Ashley was employed as a diversity officer at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. While at McGeorge, Ms. Ashley met diversity expert Sarah Redfield.

In April 2007, Ashley, along with Sarah Redfield, met Peter Arth (Chief of Staff to CPUC President Michael Peevey) at a restaurant in San Francisco. During that meeting the idea to create CaliforniaALL was conceived. According to Ashley, all three arrived for the “brainstorming session” without any notepads; they quickly improvised and resorted to recording notes on a paper napkin which were the cornerstones of CaliforniaALL. See an excerpt from CaliforniaALL’s now defunct website below:

Urban legend notwithstanding, Ashley’s version of events is slightly inaccurate, as Sarah Redfield (a visiting professor from New Hampshire who Ashley met at McGeorge School of Law) is not a member of the California Bar, and was not representing any governmental agency. In actuality, Ruthe Ashley acted on behalf of both the State Bar California and CalPERS — where she was at the time employed as a Diversity Officer. Pete Arth, an attorney with the CPUC, spoke on behalf of the CPUC.

On June 26, 2007, Ruth Ashley presented to the BOG the concept of California ALL, and recommnended that the State Bar support the organization.

Eventually, CalPERS, CPUC, and the State Bar of California endorsed in principle the creation of CaliforniaALL – a Section 501(c)(3) entity that would raise funds to be used to support a more diverse workforce in California.

Morrison & Foerster Team (L-R) Ms. Dian Grueneich — Former Commissioner with California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”); Mr. Raj Chatterjee — current board member of the Foundation of State Bar of California (DBA California Bar Foundation, entity headed by Arnold & Porter’s Douglas Winthrop formerly of Howard Rice) ; Ms. Susan Mac Cormac — part of legal team which created entity CaliforniaALL, Mac Cormac was recently awarded “Rainmaker of the Year” by James Brosnahan’s alleged former mistress Marty Africa of Major Lindsey & Africa; Mr. Tony West; Mr. James J. Brosnahan of “Voice of OC” who represented El Paso Corp during California energy crisis opposing Pierce O’Donnell, Joe Cotchett, and Thomas Girardi of Joe Dunn’s Voice of OC; Ms. Annette Carnegie, formerly member of the board of California Bar Foundation during the Hush-Hush subrosa transfer of $780,000 to CaliforniaALL; Ms. Diane Pritchard who practiced extensively before the CPUC while at MoFo. (image: courtesy photo)

In the meantime, with a green light to proceed with the plan and with the credibility of state agencies behind her, Ruthe Ashley marched on. Ashley, however, wanted to maintain a low profile AND make it appear that her subsequent hiring was purely coincidental. As such, she delegated the task of forming the entity to be known as CaliforniaALL to Sarah Redfield and Victor Miramontes.

Miramontes, a resident of San Antonio, Texas is associated with CityView, a Los Angeles-based entity controlled by former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros

Papers were filed with both state and federal agencies to allow CaliforniaALL to operate as a tax exempt entity. Victor Miramontes listed himself as Chairman of the Board, and Sarah E. Redfield served as CaliforniaAll’s interim-executive-director for a period of 6 months. See below:

Sarah Redfield, one of the three lawyers who met at the San Francisco restaurant and who acted as CaliforniaALL’s Interim Executive Director was paid $157,763 while misclassified as an “independent contractor” in tax-returns submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

Thus, it was now time for Ruthe Ashley to make her appearance. She did so in June of 2008. CaliforniaALL issued multiple press releases announcing that Ruthe Ashley would serve as CaliforniaALL’s CEO.

Incidentally, Ashley and her attorneys represented to the IRS in returns bearing her signature that she was hired after a “nationwide search”, see below:

CaliforniaALL’s was housed at: 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2400 Sacramento, California 95814. This adress is actually the adress of the law-offices of DLA Piper in Sacramento. In its publication, CaliforniaALL thanked DLA Piper for offering pro-bono space in the Sacramento office. Yet, in CaliforniaALL’s tax-return signed by Ruthe Ashley, an expense in the amount of $16,457 for “occupancy” is listed. (See two images below)

In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million from utility companies (AT&T, PG&E, Verizon, Sempra), including a sub-rosa Hush-Hush contribution of $769,247.00 from the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation).

Once Ashley assumed the position, the Foundation of the State Bar of California (which is under the complete control of the State Bar of California Board of Governors) made a quiet transfer of approximately $780,000 from Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL.

At the time of the transfer, the individuals controlling the Foundation were Holly Fujie, Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller, Howard Rice’s Douglas Winthrop, Ex CPUC Commissioner Geoffrey Brown, Annette Carnegie of Morrison & Foerster (the one and the same Morrison & Foerster which served as legal counsel to CaliforniaALL through Eric Tate Susan Mac Cormac) , and a few others.

CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the approximate $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

Below is an image which reflects State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation) IRS Tax-Return showing a transfer of $774,247 to CaliforniaALL.

Below, California Bar Foundation’s Newsroom, which made no mention of the “hush-hush” sub-rosa transfer to CaliforniaALL.

In 2008, serving as President of the Foundation was Mario Camara. A joint letter published and signed by Camara and Hatamiya also made no mention of the hush-hush transfer. Wasn’t Mr. Camara proud of it, just like he was proud of other money which went to support “pipelines” After all, CaliforniaALL was also intended to support “pipelines”. See below:

Below an image taken from CaliforniaALL own newsletter which alludes to the fact that the State Bar of California is a “Founding Partner” of CaliforniaALL. Stingy with credit and despite the transfer of close to $780,000 from the California Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL, only utility companies are listed as “Founding Funders.” See below:

As the purpose of CaliforniaALL was to transfer those funds forward, it did so by awarding approximately $300,000 in grants to the UCI Foundation, where State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn (future owner of Voice of OC) serves as trustee and chair of the Audit Committee.

Voice of OC original members of the Board of Directors(L-R) UCI Law Professor Henry Winestein, James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster, Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese State Bar of California executive director Joe Dunn, and UCI Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky.

In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley , as though her mission had been completed, abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. In the same month and year, State Bar of California Executive Director , Mr. Joe Dunn, publicly launched the online publication “The Voice of OC” with the help of Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

Also on September of 2009, CaliforniaALL saw fit to honor State Bar of California Board of Governors member Shrimpscam Gwen Moore — an appointee of Karen Bass and a confederate of fellow BOG member Jeannine English from the Little Hoover Commission:

Shockingly, and to add insult to injury, Jill Sperber of the State Bar of California would later claim

“No Bar or Foundation funds were used for CAAL creation (AKA CaliforniaALL – by TLR)

UCI Foundation allegedly used the money it obtained from CaliforniaALL to launch a “Saturday Law Academy. ” According to Professor Sarah Redfield’s CV, between 2008 and 2009 she “launched” CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.

Similarly, CaliforniaALL’s own publication indicates that with CaliforniaALL’s grant funds, U.C. Irvine developed and implemented the Saturday Academy of Law, and that by 2009 CaliforniaALL’s mission was visibly at work through the program. See below.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, as most transactions involving CaliforniaALL, the California Bar Foundation and the State Bar of California, it is imbued with fraud and egregious acts dishonesty and deception.

Specifically, the Saturday Academy of Law has been in existence for many years, and is part of the University of California Irvine’s Center for Educational Partnerships (CFEP), which has many programs to benefit the community, such as “UCI Saturdays with Sciences,” “Saturday Academy in Mathematics,” and the like.

For example, as part of a field trip to law firms, the photo below was taken in 2005 when the UCISAL group visited the law offices of Sheppard Mullin.

In 2007, UCISAL paid a visit to Allen Matkins. (See below.) We have intentionally blurred the photo to maintain the students’ privacy. Seated on the right is Robert Hamilton. On the far right is Karina Hamilton, a former Allen Matkins associate, wife of Robert Hamilton, and Director of UCISAL.

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

In fact, UCI’s own literature gives no credit to CaliforniaALL. (See below.)

According to the sources, while there is not even a scintilla of evidence that demonstrating that Mr. West somehow pocketed any money unlawfully or engaged in any other unlawful activities, his prior work with Brosnahan as well as the eerie coincidence that those who were involved with CaliforniaALL and Voice of OC were also in support of his conformation in 2009, requires further understanding of event, if only to examine potential conflict of interests should the DOJ ever investigate Voice of OC and/or CaliforniaALL — both entities with very close ties to Morrison & Foerster, and especially partner James Brosnahan.

Eight years ago, the former federal and state prosecutor was running for a San Jose-area state Assembly seat. It was a nasty campaign, with partisans on both sides hitting hard. Days before the primary, voters received a mailer alluding to false claims that West was living in Oakland. His face was darkened and placed inside an Oakland Raiders logo, to make him appear “as if a gangsta were running,” as the San Jose Metro newspaper put it. West lost to Manny Diaz, a Democrat, who eventually was elected to the Assembly.

“I think he came out of that race a little less idealistic,” said his sister-in-law, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, who has endorsed Obama. West married Harris’ sister Maya, his best friend from law school, and they have an adult daughter, Meena. “He is so smart, and he always sees the positive in everything, but that was below the belt.”

“I certainly hope that he would run for office again,” said former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who called West “one of my mentees.”

Mr. Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice. He joined Morrison & Foerster in 2001. While at MoFo, West represented “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh alongside partners James Brosnahan and Raj Chatterjee. His sister-in-law, Kamala Harris, is the California attorney general.

Mr. West shares a laugh with sister-in-law Kamala Harris former paramour who is like an albatross hanging around her neck — Willie Brown ( an otherwise a confederate of CPUC insider and State Bar of California Board of Governor member Gwen Moore.)

From left, Ms. Lateefah Simon (spouse of CPUC Commissioner and Golden Gate University Professor Timothy Alan Simon); Mr Tony West; Mr. John Burris, a well-known and well-respected civil rights attorney whom TLR previously introduce to its readers in connection with former crack-addict Mike Nisperos during a trip to CNMI HERE.

CaliforniaALL

Ms. Ruth Ashley, a former member of the State bar of California Board of Governors, arranged with others the subrosa transfer of $769,247.00 from the State Bar to a chritable entity — CaliforniaALL — which was under her control. (Photo: courtesy)

In approximately 2007, Ruthe Catolico Ashley — an attorney from Sacramento and a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors — was employed by CalPERS as a “Diversity Officer.” Prior to her employment with CalPERS, Ms. Ashley was employed as a diversity officer at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. While at McGeorge, Ms. Ashley met diversity expert Sarah Redfield.

In April 2007, Ashley, along with Sarah Redfield, met Peter Arth (Chief of Staff to CPUC President Michael Peevey) at a restaurant in San Francisco. During that meeting the idea to create CaliforniaALL was conceived. According to Ashley, all three arrived for the “brainstorming session” without any notepads; they quickly improvised and resorted to recording notes on a paper napkin which were the cornerstones of CaliforniaALL. See an excerpt from CaliforniaALL’s now defunct website below:

Urban legend notwithstanding, Ashley’s version of events is slightly inaccurate, as Sarah Redfield (a visiting professor from New Hampshire who Ashley met at McGeorge School of Law) is not a member of the California Bar, and was not representing any governmental agency. In actuality, Ruthe Ashley acted on behalf of both the State Bar California and CalPERS — where she was at the time employed as a Diversity Officer. Pete Arth, an attorney with the CPUC, spoke on behalf of the CPUC.

On June 26, 2007, Ruth Ashley presented to the BOG the concept of California ALL, and recommnended that the State Bar support the organization.

Eventually, CalPERS, CPUC, and the State Bar of California endorsed in principle the creation of CaliforniaALL – a Section 501(c)(3) entity that would raise funds to be used to support a more diverse workforce in California.

Morrison & Foerster Team (L-R) Ms. Dian Grueneich — Former Commissioner with California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”); Mr. Raj Chatterjee — current board member of the Foundation of State Bar of California (DBA California Bar Foundation, entity headed by Arnold & Porter’s Douglas Winthrop formerly of Howard Rice) ; Ms. Susan Mac Cormac — part of legal team which created entity CaliforniaALL, Mac Cormac was recently awarded “Rainmaker of the Year” by James Brosnahan’s alleged former mistress Marty Africa of Major Lindsey & Africa; Mr. Tony West; Mr. James J. Brosnahan of “Voice of OC” who represented El Paso Corp during California energy crisis opposing Pierce O’Donnell, Joe Cotchett, and Thomas Girardi of Joe Dunn’s Voice of OC; Ms. Annette Carnegie, formerly member of the board of California Bar Foundation during the Hush-Hush subrosa transfer of $780,000 to CaliforniaALL; Ms. Diane Pritchard who practiced extensively before the CPUC while at MoFo. (image: courtesy photo)

In the meantime, with a green light to proceed with the plan and with the credibility of state agencies behind her, Ruthe Ashley marched on. Ashley, however, wanted to maintain a low profile AND make it appear that her subsequent hiring was purely coincidental. As such, she delegated the task of forming the entity to be known as CaliforniaALL to Sarah Redfield and Victor Miramontes.

Miramontes, a resident of San Antonio, Texas is associated with CityView, a Los Angeles-based entity controlled by former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros

Papers were filed with both state and federal agencies to allow CaliforniaALL to operate as a tax exempt entity. Victor Miramontes listed himself as Chairman of the Board, and Sarah E. Redfield served as CaliforniaAll’s interim-executive-director for a period of 6 months. See below:

Sarah Redfield, one of the three lawyers who met at the San Francisco restaurant and who acted as CaliforniaALL’s Interim Executive Director was paid $157,763 while misclassified as an “independent contractor” in tax-returns submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

Thus, it was now time for Ruthe Ashley to make her appearance. She did so in June of 2008. CaliforniaALL issued multiple press releases announcing that Ruthe Ashley would serve as CaliforniaALL’s CEO.

Incidentally, Ashley and her attorneys represented to the IRS in returns bearing her signature that she was hired after a “nationwide search”, see below:

CaliforniaALL’s was housed at: 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2400 Sacramento, California 95814. This adress is actually the adress of the law-offices of DLA Piper in Sacramento. In its publication, CaliforniaALL thanked DLA Piper for offering pro-bono space in the Sacramento office. Yet, in CaliforniaALL’s tax-return signed by Ruthe Ashley, an expense in the amount of $16,457 for “occupancy” is listed. (See two images below)

In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million from utility companies (AT&T, PG&E, Verizon, Sempra), including a sub-rosa Hush-Hush contribution of $769,247.00 from the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation).

Once Ashley assumed the position, the Foundation of the State Bar of California (which is under the complete control of the State Bar of California Board of Governors) made a quiet transfer of approximately $780,000 from Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL.

At the time of the transfer, the individuals controlling the Foundation were Holly Fujie, Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller, Howard Rice’s Douglas Winthrop, Ex CPUC Commissioner Geoffrey Brown, Annette Carnegie of Morrison & Foerster (the one and the same Morrison & Foerster which served as legal counsel to CaliforniaALL through Eric Tate Susan Mac Cormac) , and a few others.

CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the approximate $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

Below is an image which reflects State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation) IRS Tax-Return showing a transfer of $774,247 to CaliforniaALL.

Below, California Bar Foundation’s Newsroom, which made no mention of the “hush-hush” sub-rosa transfer to CaliforniaALL.

In 2008, serving as President of the Foundation was Mario Camara. A joint letter published and signed by Camara and Hatamiya also made no mention of the hush-hush transfer. Wasn’t Mr. Camara proud of it, just like he was proud of other money which went to support “pipelines” After all, CaliforniaALL was also intended to support “pipelines”. See below:

Below an image taken from CaliforniaALL own newsletter which alludes to the fact that the State Bar of California is a “Founding Partner” of CaliforniaALL. Stingy with credit and despite the transfer of close to $780,000 from the California Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL, only utility companies are listed as “Founding Funders.” See below:

As the purpose of CaliforniaALL was to transfer those funds forward, it did so by awarding approximately $300,000 in grants to the UCI Foundation, where State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn (future owner of Voice of OC) serves as trustee and chair of the Audit Committee.

Voice of OC original members of the Board of Directors(L-R) UCI Law Professor Henry Winestein, James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster, Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese State Bar of California executive director Joe Dunn, and UCI Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky.

In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley , as though her mission had been completed, abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. In the same month and year, State Bar of California Executive Director , Mr. Joe Dunn, publicly launched the online publication “The Voice of OC” with the help of Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

Also on September of 2009, CaliforniaALL saw fit to honor State Bar of California Board of Governors member Shrimpscam Gwen Moore — an appointee of Karen Bass and a confederate of fellow BOG member Jeannine English from the Little Hoover Commission:

Shockingly, and to add insult to injury, Jill Sperber of the State Bar of California would later claim

“No Bar or Foundation funds were used for CAAL creation (AKA CaliforniaALL – by TLR)

UCI Foundation allegedly used the money it obtained from CaliforniaALL to launch a “Saturday Law Academy. ” According to Professor Sarah Redfield’s CV, between 2008 and 2009 she “launched” CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.

Similarly, CaliforniaALL’s own publication indicates that with CaliforniaALL’s grant funds, U.C. Irvine developed and implemented the Saturday Academy of Law, and that by 2009 CaliforniaALL’s mission was visibly at work through the program. See below.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, as most transactions involving CaliforniaALL, the California Bar Foundation and the State Bar of California, it is imbued with fraud and egregious acts dishonesty and deception.

Specifically, the Saturday Academy of Law has been in existence for many years, and is part of the University of California Irvine’s Center for Educational Partnerships (CFEP), which has many programs to benefit the community, such as “UCI Saturdays with Sciences,” “Saturday Academy in Mathematics,” and the like.

For example, as part of a field trip to law firms, the photo below was taken in 2005 when the UCISAL group visited the law offices of Sheppard Mullin.

In 2007, UCISAL paid a visit to Allen Matkins. (See below.) We have intentionally blurred the photo to maintain the students’ privacy. Seated on the right is Robert Hamilton. On the far right is Karina Hamilton, a former Allen Matkins associate, wife of Robert Hamilton, and Director of UCISAL.

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

In fact, UCI’s own literature gives no credit to CaliforniaALL. (See below.)

According to the sources, while there is not even a scintilla of evidence that demonstrating that Mr. West somehow pocketed any money unlawfully or engaged in any other unlawful activities, his prior work with Brosnahan as well as the eerie coincidence that those who were involved with CaliforniaALL and Voice of OC were also in support of his conformation in 2009, requires further understanding of event, if only to examine potential conflict of interests should the DOJ ever investigate Voice of OC and/or CaliforniaALL — both entities with very close ties to Morrison & Foerster, and especially partner James Brosnahan.

Mr. Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice. West attended Harvard University where he served as Publisher of the Harvard Political Review, graduating with honors in 1987. He received his J.D. degree in 1992 from Stanford Law School, where he was President of the Stanford Law Review. He joined Morrison & Foerster in 2001. While at MoFo, West represented clients ranging from large corporations to “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh alongside partners James Brosnahan and Raj Chatterjee. His sister-in-law, Kamala Harris, is the California attorney general.

Morrison & Foerster Team (L-R) Ms. Dian Grueneich — Former Commissioner with California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”); Mr. Raj Chatterjee — current board member of the Foundation of State Bar of California (DBA California Bar Foundation, entity headed by Arnold & Porter’s Douglas Winthrop formerly of Howard Rice) ; Ms. Susan Mac Cormac — part of legal team which created entity CaliforniaALL, Mac Cormac was recently awarded “Rainmaker of the Year” by James Brosnahan’s alleged former mistress Marty Africa of Major Lindsey & Africa; Mr. Tony West; Mr. James J. Brosnahan of “Voice of OC” who represented El Paso Corp during California energy crisis opposing Pierce O’Donnell, Joe Cotchett, and Thomas Girardi of Joe Dunn’s Voice of OC; Ms. Annette Carnegie, formerly member of the board of California Bar Foundation during the Hush-Hush subrosa transfer of $780,000 to CaliforniaALL; Ms. Diane Pritchard who practiced extensively before the CPUC while at MoFo.

Mr. West shares a laugh with sister-in-law Kamala Harris former paramour who is like an albatross hanging around her neck — Willie Brown ( an otherwise a confederate of CPUC insider and State Bar of California Board of Governor member Gwen Moore.)

From left, Ms. Lateefah Simon (spouse of CPUC Commissioner and Golden Gate University Professor Timothy Alan Simon); Mr Tony West; Mr. John Burris, a well-known and well-respected civil rights attorney whom TLR previously introduce to its readers in connection with former crack-addict Mike Nisperos during a trip to CNMI HERE.

*THE LESLIE BRODIE REPORT STRONGLY URGES THE READERS TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION AND NOT JUMP TO CONCLUSION REGARDING MISCONDUCT BY ANYONE — it should be noted that TLR possesses not even a scintilla of evidence that demonstrating that Mr. Tony West somehow pocketed any money unlawfully or engaged in any other unlawful activities, other than the convenient circumstances described below involving Morrison & Foerster, James Brosnahan, Susan Mac Cormac, State Bar of California Executive Director — Joe Dunn of Voice of OC, Howard Miller and Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese, and the California Bar Foundation which made a hush-hush sub-rosa transfer of $780,000.00 to sham entity CaliforniaALL.

As mentioned previously, YR suspects money was misappropriated and/or laundered through the California Bar Foundation by James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster (who represented El Paso Energy) and others to assist State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn to launch his publication — Voice of OC . See more HERE and HERE and HERE .

A complete list of letters received in support of the nomination of Mr. Tony West of Morrison & Foerster to the position of Assistant Attorney General of the United States of America

*Commentary by TLR in parenthesis

March 17, 2009 – South Asian Bar Association (Entity headed by MoFo’s Raj Chatterjee — who along with Brosnahan and West represented the American Taliban. See HERE)

March 10, 2009 – Anne Eshoo, U.S. Congresswoman, California

March 9, 2009 – Timothy Alan Simon, Commissioner, Public Utilities Commission, State of California (Part of CaliforniaALL’s Advisory Council along with Tony West’s sister-in-law, Kamala Harris. See HERE )

March 5, 2009 – Nell Jessup Newton, Chancellor and Dean, University of California Hastings College of Law

March 5, 2009 – National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives

March 5, 2009 – National Bar Association

March 5, 2009 – Tom McEnery, former Mayor, San Jose, California

March 5, 2009 – Bill Lockyer, Treasurer, State of California; former Attorney General, State of California (A confederate of Thomas Girardi who may be involved in Indian Gambling via Howard Dickstein — spouse of State Bar Board of Governor member Jeannine English — Gwen Moore’s confederate at Little Hoover Commission)

March 5, 2009 – John Keker, Keker & Van Nest LLP ( Mr. Jon Streeter of Keker & Van Nest presently serves as the President of the State Bar of California)

March 5, 2009 – Edmund G. Brown Jr., Attorney General, State of California (Cousin of Ex CPUC Commissioner Geoofrey Brown who served as California Bar Foundation BOD member during the HUSH-HUSH Sub-Rosa transfer of 780,000 to CaliforniaALL)

March 5, 2009 – Barbara Allen Babcock, Judge John Crown Professor of Law, Emerita, Stanford Law School; former Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division (Sister of State Bar of California Chief General Counsel Starr Babcock who has some explaining to do. See HERE)

March 5, 2009 – Christopher Arriola

March 4, 2009 – Louise Renne, Renne Sloan Holtzman Sakai LLP

March 4, 2009 – Chuck Reed, Mayor, City of San Jose, California

March 4, 2009 – Major Cities Chiefs Association

March 3, 2009 – Seth P. Waxman, WilmerHale, former Solicitor General

March 3, 2009 – John Russo, City Attorney, City of Oakland

March 3, 2009 – Janet Reno, former Attorney General

March 3, 2009 – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

March 3, 2009 – Shirley Hufstedler, Morrison & Foerster LLP; former Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; former U.S. Secretary of Education

*THE LESLIE BRODIE REPORT STRONGLY URGES THE READERS TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION AND NOT JUMP TO CONCLUSION REGARDING MISCONDUCT BY ANYONE — it should be noted that TLR possesses not even a scintilla of evidence that demonstrating that Mr. Tony West somehow pocketed any money unlawfully or engaged in any other unlawful activities,other than the convenient circumstances described below involving Morrison & Foerster, James Brosnahan, Susan Mac Cormac, State Bar of California Executive Director — Joe Dunn of Voice of OC, Howard Miller and Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese, California Bar Foundation which made a hush-hush sub-rosa transfer of $780,000.00 to CaliforniaALL See HERE

Mr Tony West of the US Department of Justice / Ex-Litigation Partner at Morrison & Foerster. West, 46, will step into the No. 3 position in one week where he will oversee a broad range of issues, including civil rights, the environment and natural resources, tax and civil litigation. West’s sister in law is Willie Brown’s former paramour — Kamala Harris who served as part of CaliforniaALL’s Advisory Council — See HERE

INTRODUCTION OF ACTORS:(Taken from complaint YR had recently submitted to the IRS)

1. Mr. Joe Dunn in his role as the creator of online publication “Voice of OC” – Orange County’s Nonprofit Investigative News Agency.

2. Mr. Joe Dunn in his role as Trustee of the UCI Foundation (an entity which obtained funds from a separate charitable entity known as CaliforniaALL (FEIN Number 51-0656213).

3. Mr. Joe Dunn in his role as Executive Director of the State Bar of California – an entity which also controls and maintains a foundation known as the California Bar Foundation. The California Bar Foundation very quietly transferred close to $780,000 to CaliforniaALL.

4. Mr. Joe Dunn in his role as a politician and business partner of Martha Escutia, who was involved in matters relating to utility companies operating in California.

5. Ms. Gwen Moore – a former Assembly member in the California legislature. Ms. Moore has “clout” over the CPUC and utility companies. Ms. Moore presently serves as a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors; she has previously been the subject of an FBI sting operation.

6. Mr. Geoffrey Brown – a former commissioner with the CPUC and former board member of the California Bar Foundation. During his tenure as a board member of the California Bar Foundation, a hush-hush transfer of $780,000 was made to CaliforniaALL. Subsequent to this transfer, Mr. Brown abruptly quit his position as board member.

7. Mr. Thomas Girardi of Los Angeles-based law firm Girardi & Keese. Mr. Girardi helped Joe Dunn to establish the Voice of OC, and was a member of its board of directors. Recently, he abruptly quit that position. Mr. Girardi is a well-known donor to the Democratic Party and, in particular, to California Senator Barbara Boxer.

8. Mr. Howard Miller of Los Angeles-based law firm Girardi & Keese. Mr. Miller was a member of both the State Bar of California Board of Governors and the California Bar Foundation board of directors when the “hush-hush” transfer of $780,000 from California Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL took place.

9. Mr. James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster – Mr. Brosnahan represents utility companies. He – along with Thomas Girardi – helped Mr. Joe Dunn create the Voice of OC, the subject of this complaint. Like Mr. Girardi, Mr. Brosnahan also served as member of Voice of OC’s board of directors, and recently also abruptly quit his position.

10. Ms. Susan Mac Cormac of Morrison & Foerster – Ms. Mac Cormac was part of the legal team that created the legal entity known as CaliforniaALL.

11. Mr. Victor Miramontes – a resident of San Antonio, TX and business partner of former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros. Mr. Miramontes was the chairman of CaliforniaALL.

12. Ms. Ruthe Catolico Ashley – a former employee of McGeorge School of Law who later served as a “Diversity Officer” at CalPERS. Ms. Ashley also served as member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors, and came up with the idea to create CaliforniaALL during a meeting with Sarah Redfield and Peter Arth, Jr. (the assistant to CPUC President Michael Peevey). After CaliforniaALL came into existence, Ms. Ashley, after a simulated search, was selected to serve as CaliforniaALL’s executive director.

13. Ms. Sarah Redfield – a visiting professor at McGeorge School of Law and a member of the State Bar of California Committee. Ms. Redfield was chosen to serve as the “interim executive director” for CaliforniaALL, and later also allegedly served as a consultant to CaliforniaALL. For her services, Ms. Redfield was paid for the year of 2008 close to $160,000 as an “independent contractor.” Even though CaliforniaALL was housed pro bono at the law offices of DLA Piper in Sacramento, there is an entry on CaliforniaALL’s tax return for close to $16,000 for “occupancy.”

14. Ms. Judy Johnson – the former Executive Director of the State Bar of California. For the past 8 years, she has been secretly serving as the president of an entity with a misleading name (“California Consumer Protection Foundation”). This entity absorbed close to $30 million in class action cy pres awards, as well as fines and settlements imposed by the CPUC on utility companies. This entity forwarded those funds to mostly questionable ACORN-like entities. On its website, CCPF claims that it has available information on all grantees going back 10 years. Not so. The information is scattered and extremely difficult to ascertain. In fact, a whole year is missing (2002). During that year, incidentally, CCPF awarded funds to the real ACORN as well as to Eric Moore of Educate LA, who is presumably related to Gwen Moore. Ms. Johnson used her position as executive director of the State Bar of California (which is supposed to supervise and discipline lawyers) as “clout” to obtain cy pres awards from the settlement of class actions prosecuted and defended by countless law firms.

15. Mr. Jeffrey Bleich of Munger Tolles & Olson – presently the U.S. ambassador to Australia and a close friend of President Barack Obama. Mr. Bleich served as member of the BOG when CaliforniaALL was conceived. He is mentioned only in reference because Verizon Communications (which heavily contributed to CaliforniaALL) is a client of Munger Tules & Olson.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND:

In approximately 2007, Ruthe Catolico Ashley — an attorney from Sacramento and a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors — was employed by CalPERS as a “Diversity Officer.” Prior to her employment with CalPERS, Ms. Ashley was employed as a diversity officer at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. While at McGeorge, Ms. Ashley met diversity expert Sarah Redfield.

Papers were filed with both state and federal agencies to allow CaliforniaALL to operate as a tax exempt entity. Victor Miramontes listed himself as Chairman of the Board, and Sarah E. Redfield served as CaliforniaAll’s interim-executive director for a period of 6 months. Serving as CaliforniaALL’s legal counsel was Susan Mac Cormac of Morrison & Foerster.

California Attorney General RCT reflects that CaliforniaALL obtained its “Charity” status on March 14, 2008 (FEIN Number 510656213). The address for CaliforniaALL is listed as 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2400, Sacramento, California. This is actually the address of DLA Piper, where CaliforniaALL resided pro bono.
In June 2008, after a “nationwide search” and aided by a pro bono head-hunting firm in its search for a permanent CEO, CaliforniaALL, not surprisingly, hired Ruthe Catolico Ashley as its chief executive officer.

CaliforniaALL’s 990 returns for 2008 list Sarah Redfield of Orono, Maine as an “independent contractor.” Her job description is listed as “Program Director.” and she was paid $157,763. It is unknown to the undersigned whether Redfield paid self-employment taxes or any other applicable state income taxes, either in California or Maine. (Incidentally, Redfield falsely states on her resume that she was part of a “curriculum committee” with SAL-UCI, an entity associated with UCI and the UCI Foundation where CaliforniaALL forwarded funds. In addition, Redfield falsely stated that she “launched” SAL-UCI, an entity that was already in existence from 2005.)

In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million from utility companies (AT&T, PG&E, Verizon, Sempra), including a sub rosa “hush-hush” contribution of $769,247 from the State Bar of California Foundation.

To date, data collected by the undersigned shows that CaliforniaALL (which was supposed to forward most of those funds) transferred between $300,000 to $400,000 to the UCI Foundation (where Joe Dunn serves as trustee), spent an unknown amount to honor Gwen Moore at a lavish dinner held at a luxury hotel in Sacramento, paid for other incidental expenses such as salaries, and subsequent to moving out from the offices of DLA Piper to a more modest location , paid for a UPS Store mail box slot in Citrus Heights. (Later, CaliforniaALL relocated its base to the loft of one Larrisa Parecki in Sacramento.)

Between 2001 and 2007, Geoffrey Brown served as a Commissioner with the CPUC. From 2006 to 2009, Brown served as a director of the State Bar of California Foundation. In 2008, California Bar Foundation quietly transferred $769,247.00 to CaliforniaALL. CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the $769,247.00 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

Specifically, the following circumstances surrounding Voice of OC have caused concerns:

1. Senator Martha Escutia, Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications (EU&C) also participated in meetings with the CPUC concerning diversity. She is a founding member of The Senators (Ret.) firm, LLP, as is Joe Dunn.

2. The fact that some individuals and entities involved in the creation of CaliforniaALL and the subsequent transfer of $769,247.00 from the Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL, were also involved in assisting Joe Dunn with the creation of “Voice of OC” to wit – on one hand Morrison & Foerster’s Susan Mac Cormac as legal counsel for CaliforniaALL; Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller in his capacity as BOD member of Cal Bar Foundation, as well as BOG members who voted to endorse CaliforniaALL and consider it to have been a partner of the State Bar of California. On the other hand Morrison & Foerster’s James Brosnahan and Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi as part of helping Joe Dunn with the establishment of Voice of OC.

3. CaliforniaALL was to transfer funds forward. It did so by awarding approximately $300,000 in grants to the UCI Foundation, where Joe Dunn serves as trustee and chair of the Audit Committee. It appears that CaliforniaALL preselected UCI Foundation, making a prior simulated request for proposal (RFP) by Sarah Redfield that led to the grant – a sham process.

4. In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. That same month, Joe Dunn publicly launched his online publication, “Voice of OC.” (as though Ashley’s mission had been completed).

5. The recent abrupt departure of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan from ‘Voice of OC” (as though they were fleeing the scene with guilty consciences).

Of course she is not black or a democrat she is the Republican Governor of South Carolina.

If AG Holder wasn’t so busy committing perjury perhaps he could turn his guns on the real crooks, Al Gore, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Maxine Waters, Chuck Schumer, Franklyn Raines, and Joel Waxman; all who benefited from their push of the hoax of man-made global warming, and the faulty loans provided by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, each of whom benefited by sweet heart loans from Country Wide Mortgage, the first to fall, campaign donations, and in the case of Franklin a major league bonus while he led a failed operation.

Governor Niki Haley, South Carolina

While we are at it what about Diane Feinstein creating legislation that directed money to her husband’s business of refurbishing home that were foreclose because of the mess and Nancy Pelosi who fast and loose legislation has benefited her husband’s enterprises greatly increasing her families net worth? It’s time these folk be tried, if convicted put behind bars at a federal prison.

How completely the party of the Democrat, stir up another potential crisis for a Republican Governor that has no factual basis; while hoping “A lie told often is accepted as the truth.”~ Vladmir Lenin, a progressive/Marxist icon.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it, I’m J.C. and I approve this message.

Two well-placed legal experts have independently told Palmetto Public Record they expect the U.S. Department of Justice to issue an indictment against South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on charges of tax fraud as early as this week.

A highly ranked federal official has also privately confirmed rumblings of an investigation and possible indictment of the governor, though the official was not aware of the specific timeframe.

Yesterday, Palmetto Public Record exclusively reported that the Internal Revenue Service has been investigating since March of 2011 the Sikh worship center run by Gov. Haley’s father. At least five lawsuits have been filed against the Sikh Society of South Carolina since 2010, alleging that the group bilked contractors out of nearly $130,000 for the construction of a new temple.

House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said Tuesday that “the American people should be very afraid” after hearing President Barack Obama’s accidentally recorded remarks to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday that after the election he would have more “flexibility” in dealing with the Russians.

“I judge that in fact he’s going to sell out our national defense after the election,” said Issa.

Both claim to protect taxpayers’ interests. Both sought to influence politics in 2010. Here we are in October 2011, and neither has released any information about its 2010 finances.

Granted, public disclosure by nonprofit corporations is not the world’s most pressing issue. But here’s a reason to care: these entities seek to sway policymakers, and benefit mightily from the tax code.

You’d think they could bestir themselves to meet a few basic requirements, like filing their public tax returns, more or less by the April 15 deadline that most of us meet.

From his base in Washington, D.C., Norquist has attained prominence on tax issues, having cajoled most Republican members of Congress and state legislators to sign pledges promising to never raise taxes. Republicans know they risk their careers if they cross Norquist.

Taxpayer Network is obscure, operating little more than a website in which it describes itself as a “nonprofit public benefit corporation” whose goal “is to educate the public about the policies and policy-makers involved in issues of taxation, spending and regulation of the economy.”

Its lofty stated goals notwithstanding, Taxpayer Network was a shell until the end of the 2010 campaign, when it received an infusion of money and aired a vicious television ad attacking Sen. Barbara Boxer, claiming she had voted against injured war veterans and in favor of giving Viagra to pedophiles.

After leveling its over-the-top attack, Taxpayer Network sought to slink back into anonymity. And it would be forgotten, except that having written about Taxpayer Network and its sleazy ad last year, I feel a certain obligation to keep track of it.

Although little about Taxpayer Network is public, this we know: Its address was in a strip mall mail drop in Rocklin, and Republican consultant Dave Gilliard of Sacramento created the spot.

Gilliard’s clients include Rep. Darrell Issa, the San Diego-area Republican who heads the House oversight committee and is perhaps Congress’ wealthiest member, and who often spends his own money on campaigns. Gilliard declines to say who paid for the Taxpayer Network’s 2010 commercial.

Far be it from me to suggest that Taxpayer Network skirted the law governing tax-exempt corporations. But the law is fuzzy on fundamental questions related to such corporations. They cannot spend all their time working on campaigns, but the amount of time is in dispute. Some attorneys say they are permitted to spend up to 49 percent of their time engaged in campaigns. Paul Ryan, attorney for the Campaign Legal Center in Washington, believes the allowable level is far lower, 20 percent or less.

Ryan’s nonprofit sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service last week challenging the tax-exempt status of several high-profile nonprofits, including Priorities USA, recently co-founded by former Obama administration spokesman Bill Burton; Crossroads GPS, inspired by George W. Bush’s adviser, Karl Rove; and Americans Elect, which seeks to draft a centrist candidate to run in the 2012 presidential election.

“My hopes are high. My expectations are low,” Ryan told me. “I don’t know whether there is the political will at the IRS to tackle this issue in a presidential election year.” Nonprofit corporations get the sweetest of all tax breaks. They don’t have to pay taxes. In exchange, they have a few obligations, one of which is that they are supposed to release parts of their tax returns to anyone who asks.

I’ve been asking Americans for Tax Reform and Taxpayer Network for their returns since early in the summer. Not that I’ll learn much once I receive them.

Such returns show revenue, expenses and a few other details such as salaries of top officers. Back in 2009, Norquist’s compensation was $222,419, according to the tax return covering that year. Not bad.

Norquist press secretary John Kartch sent me a note Aug. 17, saying the tax return for Americans for Tax Reform and the related Americans for Tax Reform Foundation “would available shortly.” On Aug. 29, he told me that “we anticipate having them ready this week.”

When I checked back on Thursday, a month later, I got this note: “I’m sorry but it is not available.” At least Kartch had the courtesy to answer.

Taxpayer Network has been ignoring me since Aug. 29, when I received this note from its lawyer, Paul Sullivan of Washington, D.C.:

“As you are aware, the organization has 30 days during which to comply with the written request for a copy of the return. That having been said, I will work to expedite getting the return to you since I presume you are on a deadline.”

I sent him another note asking for the return last week, 30 days after he promised it to me. Sullivan did not get back to me until Friday afternoon when he apologized for the oversight and promised to deliver the tax return Monday.

Categories

The latest state auditors report is just another report in a long string of reports going back for over five years that have repeatedly painted the judicial council into a corner. As each report was released a very highly paid army of insiders went on the offensive in a concerted effort to discount the conclusions […]

Last week, the Judicial Council met for the second time since State Auditor Elaine Howle released her searing critique of the way in which the AOC/Judicial Council staff runs its entire operation. As you’ll recall, the State Auditor concluded that the AOC has channeled money away from the trial courts to pay for services that […]

It is being alleged that on March 9 2015, Gerald Pfab is hosting another all day meeting in Sacramento’s AOC Offices with all of the facilities management unit staff from around the State required to attend in person to discuss reductions in the facilities management unit vehicle fleet. (a little more than half of the […]

Back in 2013, in an effort to fix the lack of transparency that led to the CCMS fiasco, the Legislative Analyst’s Office directed the Judicial Council to “submit to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee a report on the implementation of an open meetings rule” for its advisory bodies. So the Council came up with a […]

One of the vehicles that we’ve endorsed as financing for the state courts is somehow making a connection between drivers and driving and local court funding. We felt this way because the vast majority of all cases that hit every court are by far and away, traffic cases. So we were more than a little […]